How to make a fireplace with your own hands

Maintenance and cleaning of metal fireplaces

Alas, like everything in our life, even the most beautiful, warm and bright has the ability to become dirty and lose its gloss, lose fire in the truest sense of the word. Having bought and installed a fireplace for yourself, even if it is as comfortable as all metal models, you automatically become Cinderella, and there is absolutely no difference whether you are a man or a woman. Nothing bad will happen. It's just that at times the screen on the fireplace will rise, and ... the era of cleaning will begin. Yes, the occupation is not particularly pleasant for everyone, but the soot and decay products of wood that collect in the chimney after the fire dance in the stove do not go anywhere, but only accumulate and interfere with the normal operation of the fireplace.

With complete disregard for the conduct of cleaning procedures, negligent owners risk their property and even life. Those decay products that accumulate in the chimney and are not eliminated can cause overheating and fire in the chimney. (See also: Do-it-yourself electric fireplaces)

Cleaning the fireplace is carried out in different ways. This may be the easiest way, which is based on mechanical manual cleaning of chimneys. It is recommended to hold such an event at least once during the heating season. But there are other, more effective, efficient ways. The world of modern innovative technologies is constantly moving and opening up new opportunities. Already now on sale there are products that themselves, without the participation of your hands, will clean the fireplace. You will not need to order services from a team of specialists, just adding such products to the wood during burning is enough in order to keep the chimney relatively clean at all times.

The tool works simply, but incredibly effective: it simply prevents the formation of soot deposits. Such a prevention, which, as you know, is the best cure for any disease. Chimney cleaners are sold in convenient packages of 500 grams or 1 kilogram. They can be safely used for cleaning various top pipes, stoves, fireplaces of different types and materials.

What fuel to use

Wood is the main fuel for metal fireplaces. The wood of deciduous trees (birch and ash) will quickly warm up the fireplace and the room where it is installed. And coniferous firewood (spruce or pine) will fill the room with a specific aroma of coniferous resin. However, it is often not recommended to heat the fireplace with coniferous firewood, since the escaping resins quickly pollute the chimney and the fireplace grate.

Sometimes peat pellets can also be used in wood burning fireplaces. But coal cannot be used as a fuel. In addition to increased pollution of the room, it heats up the working elements of the fireplace very much, which can lead to their deformation and breakage of the fireplace.

In some cases, by modifying the design of the fireplace, natural gas can be used as a fuel source. But it must be remembered that the installation of gas equipment is possible only subject to prior approval of the project from the gas services.

copper

Fireplaces made of non-ferrous metal are more expensive than cast iron or steel. But they allow you to bring warm copper shades into the interior. A bronze fireplace is less prone to corrosion and rust. And the plasticity of the material allows you to make parts of any complexity and filigree from it, which allows you to make the fireplace a real work of art.

By appointment, metal fireplaces are divided into the following groups:

heating devices. This is the most common group of fireplaces that perform only the main function - heating the room;

fireplace stoves. The upper surface of such ovens is a cooking stove.In this way, you can even heat food on small fireplaces or, for example, boil a kettle;

brazier It turns out that this is also one of the varieties of metal fireplaces. The main function in such open-top designs is cooking on coals or wood with low combustion;

decorative fireplaces. They do not give special heat, but in metal decorative fireplaces you can watch the play of live fire. There are very compact models of decorative fireplaces suitable for installation in the smallest niches.

How to install the oven correctly

The primary moment is the choice of the installation site and measurements of the area. Everything must comply with safety regulations. The oven should be installed at least 60 cm from the plaster and 80 cm from the wallpaper.
The stove must stand on a concrete slab (not less than 0.7 cm), asbestos or basalt cardboard.
The elements of the furnace are assembled according to the instructions, after which it is necessary to check the tightness of the assembled structure.
Above the stove, on the ceiling, it is necessary to attach a protective element.
Installation of a chimney (it is better to choose a round version - rectangular ones have worse draft).
If you want to paint the oven, then any paint will not work for this. You need to choose special enamels (silicate or organic).
Call the fire inspector who will check the correct installation.
Test check of work of all system.

Models of stoves for the home

Buleryan

This is a Canadian design and build oven. It is quite easy to operate and has a simple design. The main part of the furnace (furnace) is made in the form of a steel cylinder, the thickness of which is 5-6 mm. A hole for supplying coal (door) is made at the end of the furnace. Round (or rectangular) tubes, hollow inside, adjoin the main part. These pipes, after warming up, create the necessary transfer of warm air in the right direction.

A grate for maintaining coal (grate) is made at the bottom of the firebox. At the top of the furnace there is a barrier that divides the main part of the furnace into two halves. This was done in order to be able to heat both coal and gas. The smoke outlet is located on the back of the door and is aligned with the firebox, which ensures that the smoke is safely vented to the street.

Butakov oven

It was tested in extreme cold climate conditions, not meeting the expectations of the patent holders for this invention. This brand has several varieties. Models that are planned to be operated around the clock are improved with glass barriers. The stove consumes 12 times less fuel than a potbelly stove, and two times less than ordinary brickwork.

Model "Student"

This is due to the fact that in such a furnace the fuel does not burn, but smolders (pyrolysis process). The only negative is that the chimney pipe is not tight enough and during the transition of steam into a liquid, water can drip from there. There are 6 varieties of such furnaces. "Gymnasist" - the most comfortable in size.

Breneran

Russian model of the Buleryan furnace. The stove is not heavy and compact. It is suitable for both residential and garage. Testing of such a stove was carried out in the mountainous area of Tajikistan, where border service premises are equipped with stoves of this type. Breneran furnaces come in 5 sizes, with a capacity of up to 35 kilowatts.

Teplodar-Matrix

This is a successful combination of design and functionality. In furnaces of this type, there is the possibility of continuous 8-hour burning (with one fuel supply). The body of the convector compartment creates uniform heating and protects against negative radiation. The depth of the smoke outlet and the compactness of the stove device saves space and creates additional advantages during installation - the chimney can be made in the direction in which it is necessary or convenient.This manufacturer has a fairly large selection of models, so you can choose the best option based on your needs and preferences.

Teplodar-Matrix 100

Teplodar-Matrix 200

Suitable if you need to heat a room up to 200 sq.m. For garage premises, the best option is the Teplodar T series. For kitchen areas, a vertical fireplace type stove is ideal

If uniform heating of the living space is of paramount importance, it is better to choose the Vesuvius model

Termofor

High-quality domestic stoves for heating areas with an air volume of 50 to 250 cubic meters. The power of such furnaces reaches 13 kilowatts. Suitable for heating both residential and non-residential premises. On some models, fans have been added to better disperse warm air. A large number of different models are presented - Ermak, Normal, Indigirka, Cinderella, etc. These furnaces are compact and have an efficiency of up to 90%. Some models have glass shutters.

Place and installation of the fireplace

Do-it-yourself metal fireplace installation begins with the first task: finding a place. A metal hearth, like, in principle, any heating device, requires a large volume and area of \u200b\u200bthe room. Only a constant supply of fresh air can guarantee the smooth operation of the device. Fireplace design, can be used as a hood.

Although the weight of a metal hearth is many times lighter than a classic one made of brick, anyway, it is quite impressive, no less than a centner. Therefore, if it is simply placed on a wooden floor, the floorboards may not withstand the pressure and fail. Therefore, the place where the hearth will be located is recommended to be strengthened. It is not necessary to put a powerful foundation, as for a brick oven, but it is necessary to strengthen the floor, replace floorboards that do not inspire confidence with new ones. An insulating sheet made of metal, asbestos or other non-combustible material can be placed under the hearth.

What is the best place to start when installing the hearth is called a stand. An oven array will be installed on it. You can buy a stand, everything is elementary simple here, but you can do it yourself. Making a stand is as easy as shelling pears, because you only need metal corners, you can make them from iron, they are cut in such a way that you get a rectangle with legs. The legs of this rectangle are firmly screwed to the floor, and a metal sheet is placed on top and welded by welding, on which the hearth is installed. In short, the idea is this: the hearth stands on a stand, and there should be air around it, therefore, a fire-fighting space. (See also: Do-it-yourself ordinal laying of a fireplace)

A metal hearth, like a classic one made of brick, requires a chimney. All floors of the house through which the chimney pipe passes must be thoroughly insulated. The wall of the house is also insulated, in the immediate vicinity, from which the metal hearth is located and to which the chimney is attached.

Types of iron stoves for summer cottages

Modern stoves that run on wood and are made of metal bear little resemblance to a "potbelly stove". Metal furnaces for the home are usually divided into two groups:

Classical, which work on a direct combustion system.
Heating, designed for long burning.

One or another system may be present in steel ovens that are designed for cooking or heating. There are a large number of such furnaces on the market, among them it is worth noting the following:

The bell-type furnace is a heating one, it uses the principle of convective movement of gases that move through the channels, and then exit into the chimney. Instead of a hob, an open oven is installed, which is located directly under the hood. This helps keep food hot for a long time.Firewood is loaded horizontally, the firebox door is made of refractory glass.

Direct combustion furnace. Most often these are small-sized models, for example, Termofor or Cinderella. The design performs two functions at once - it heats the room and helps in cooking. The thermal power of such a "baby" is 4 kW or a little more, which allows you to heat a room up to 50 m2. There are models that are equipped with electricity generators, which increases the generation of voltage and power of the furnace. For example, the Indigirka cooking stove, which runs on wood, not only heats the house, but is also suitable for charging gadgets.

Gas furnaces. They are perfect for cottages, because the designs are economical and compact in size, have a high level of efficiency, which reaches 80%. For durable operation of this type of stove, it is necessary to equip the chimney and heat it with high-quality firewood. Gas-generating stoves work due to the fact that firewood (or other type of fuel) is loaded into the combustion chamber, ignited, and then the door is closed. Fresh air flows through the telescopic tube, which sinks lower when the amount of firewood decreases. The process of air supply is regulated by a damper. The furnace life is, on average, three days. If gas-generating stoves have a water heating mode, you can save on the use of firewood.

Manufacturers and cost

Based on reviews of fireplaces made of metal, a list of popular brands has been compiled. Their motto is design excellence and maximum functionality.

1. Boley produces exclusive built-in and central, gas and wood-fired metal stoves in high-tech and classic style. Some of them are installed outdoors. There are models with glass elements. The high cost of metal fireplaces from Boley is justified by the impeccable configuration, quality and technical characteristics. Refractory glass, marble, granite, various metal alloys act as finishing materials.

2. Traforart is a Spanish manufacturer. Style - minimalism, high-tech. Almost all Traforart metal fireplaces (wood and gas) have the functions of supplying air from the outside and secondary combustion of fuel. The body and structural elements are made of steel, cast iron, glass ceramics. Variety of shapes and installation options. Housing can be painted to order.

3. Cheminees Philippe. Europe's leader in the production of wood-burning fireplaces, the enterprises are self-sufficient - low-quality materials are excluded. Distinctive features: stylish design, ease of installation and maintenance, bright colors, simple geometric shapes. The devices are made in the style of minimalism, art house, classic, avant-garde.

4. Fugar offers reliable metal wood burning stoves with an unusual appearance and many options, the cost is average. Styles: avant-garde, modern, hi-tech, classic. Sizes and shapes are very different. All location options are presented, hanging and central ones are especially in demand. For example, Rhona - a metal model of a fireplace with a firewood rack, a telescopic element and a plinth can be installed on any part of the floor.

5. Meta. In the manufacture of metal wood-burning stoves, the manufacturer uses German technology, taking into account the harsh Russian climate. Prices are several times lower compared to foreign counterparts. Sophisticated engineering solutions, embodied in beautiful devices made of steel or cast iron, ensure maximum heating efficiency and economy.

Dimensions and prices for metal fireplaces of these brands:

Model	Dimensions (WDH), mm	Average cost in rubles
Boley 181R	16008002600	737 058
Boley 186WS	20009242600	1 667 000
Traforart Laia	10006001737	264 530
Traforart Breda	10006302500	421 120
Cheminees Philippe Yvoire	930680490	585 000
Cheminees Philippe Zalana	900300860	734 500
Fugar Rhona	7005002600	220 600
Fugar Arola	600500900	154 000
Meta Rain (steel)	5504801160	31 300
Meta Marseille-14 (cast iron)	5504391130	45 600

Features of self-production

The easiest way is to buy a ready-made fireplace made of metal, but it is much more profitable to make it yourself. For a wood-burning structure, you will need: sheet metal 3-5 mm (for a chimney and a firebox) and 0.5 mm (for an ash pan), chimney elbows and pipes made of stainless steel, a grate, a cast-iron door for the firebox, fasteners and stands (corners and rails ). Next steps:

Choice of location. Mandatory conditions: good ventilation, the possibility of installing a separate chimney, the absence of non-heat-resistant materials nearby, a reliable foundation for a metal fireplace.
As a stand, a rectangular frame with legs made of corners is suitable. It is attached to the floor, a sheet of metal is placed on top.
An important stage in the manufacture of metal fireplaces with your own hands is insulation. Capital thermal protection (glass wool layer, mesh and casing) at the junction of the chimney with ceilings and other surfaces. Walls located close to the wood burning hearth are also insulated.
The firebox has two chambers separated by a damper. One of them serves to accumulate smoke, the other - to burn fuel. A gap is left between the wood burning chamber and the main body.
For even distribution of heat and beauty, brick lining of a metal wood-burning fireplace is used.
The chimney is made up of pipes connected in series with sockets. They are inserted into each other, pre-lubricating each end with mastic. The knees are responsible for the curved sections. Pipes are attached to the wall with wire and brackets.

Drywall artificial fireplaces

The most popular and easiest to implement option. The only difficulty for a beginner may arise at the stage of constructing a metal frame, you just need to practice a little.

Drywall is extremely easy to process and install. You can effortlessly cut the sheet into blanks of the required shape, bend drywall and perform other necessary actions.

Do-it-yourself drywall fireplace

First stage. Make a frame using wooden beams or metal profiles. Assemble a box measuring 130x120x30 cm from drywall sheets. The box should be without bottom and back walls. Use a sharp knife or hacksaw to cut drywall. Glue the parts of the box with mounting glue.

frame

Frame sheathing

Second phase. Prepare a drywall base measuring 150x40x20 cm. Install the finished “foundation” near the wall. For added security, glue the box to the floor with mounting adhesive.

Third stage. Glue the previously assembled fireplace structure to the "foundation". Install a suitable sized mantel on top.

Fourth stage. Make a decorative chimney measuring 80x15 cm from drywall and wooden planks (frame). Determine the height yourself - from the mantelpiece to the ceiling surface. Glue the chimney to the wall and directly to the fireplace. Do this part of the design at your discretion, if you wish, you can do without it.

Fifth stage. Carefully glue the ceiling plinth to the "foundation" and the main part of the structure. In the case of the main part of the structure, the plinth should be glued under the mantelpiece. Here it is better to place it in steps, using products of different widths to get a beautiful smooth transition.

Sixth stage. Install your artificial fire inside the drywall construction.

Seventh stage. Finish the artificial fireplace. Here, do as you please. For finishing, you can use water-dispersed paint, wallpaper, foam tiles and other suitable materials.

How to make a fireplace with your own hands

Fireplace trim. Possible variant

False plasterboard fireplace

Overview of popular manufacturers

One of the Russian manufacturers of metal fireplaces is MetaFire and their line of Angara fireplaces. It produces ready-made metal fireplaces from sheet steel, designed for heating rooms of 100-120 sq.m. Models are made according to European technologies and can accommodate a water circuit or cooking system. Consumers note the affordable cost of the line, the possibility of manual adjustment of heating and ease of operation. Among the shortcomings is the rapid formation of soot on the firebox door.

Metal fireplaces Termofor have a functional rather than an aesthetic function. The company has been on the market for many years and produces several modifications of heating wood stoves at an affordable price. Also in their line you can find barbecues and a cooking stove. Reviews of some consumers speak of a rapid loss of the appearance of the furnace. But the furnace provides a guarantee, according to which the manufacturer honestly replaces failed components.

A galaxy of European manufacturers Traforart, Boley, Cheminees Philippe and Fugar combine the quality and beauty of products. Fireplaces of these companies are finished with classic and modern materials, and fit perfectly into the room of any style. Their main disadvantage is the cost, which significantly exceeds Russian counterparts.

Disadvantages of metal furnaces

No matter how high-quality and suitable in terms of dimensions and functionality the stove model is chosen, it must be remembered that any stove, no matter how ideally it fits, always has disadvantages.

Metal stoves lose brick in terms of heat retention. When heating a room with such models, warm air lingers in it for only a couple of hours, and in the morning there will be no heat. But we can solve this drawback if we buy a metal furnace of permanent operation. After its acquisition and installation, it will be possible to forget about fueling for 8 hours.

The operation of metal furnaces can last up to 20 years. According to statistics, much earlier than this period, the metal in the furnace burns out and needs to be replaced.

When buying a metal furnace, you need to consider who and how will serve it. If installation is planned for residential premises, then it is worth considering the presence of people with chronic diseases of the respiratory tract or the cardiovascular system. In addition to the fact that such furnaces create powerful radiation, they create the effect of “dry air.” This problem can be solved if the metal base of the furnace is overlaid with bricks (at the same time, calculate whether the floor can withstand additional weight). This will greatly reduce the operating time of the oven and void the product warranty. The heating rate will decrease, but the heat capacity will increase.

Advantages and features of using metal fireplaces in a modern interior

Before we start talking about the features and benefits, we need to pay attention to a classic example of such a fireplace in the manufacture of which iron was used, such as Philippe Yvoire. It is included in the group of wooden fireplaces, but not because it is made of wood, but because it is designed to work exclusively with wood as a combustible material.

So to speak, a true apartment fireplace.

Such fireplaces with their appearance "kill" long-established stereotypes that fireplaces must be bulky, stone, with large chimneys. Perhaps they should be. But only somewhere in a medieval castle. Of course, there are still many adherents of the good old traditions with a large hearth, but not everyone can afford stone luxury.

Truly a luxury, because the installation and purchase of a stone fireplace now costs a very significant amount. But, you still need to take into account that not every house has the opportunity to install such heavyweights, where the efficiency of a stone fireplace will not always be appropriate. Not every interior they can decorate.Although, no doubt, they remain beautiful and retain something primitive in themselves. Metal fireplaces destroy the stereotype about the place where the sacred hearth should be located. (See also: Living room with fireplace and TV)

You don't need a throne room to install a metal fireplace. Do you want a fireplace on the veranda? Please, just call the team of masters, and choose which Duo fireplace you want to see there.

Today, the most common fireplaces that are made:

from bronze;

become;

brass, and the hearth itself and the portal are processed with chamon brick.

The temperature in the furnaces of such fireplaces can reach incredibly high values, which is why it has a strong cooling system. The big advantage of such fireplaces is their relatively low weight, which makes it possible to create various designs in shape and design. It can be hanging, wall or corner fireplaces. They are companions of neoclassicism, baroque. The metal that is used in the manufacture of such fireplaces is much less capricious in cold weather, does not attract cold like stone or brick, and also heats up very quickly.

Metal fireplaces are proud of their versatility: they are perfect for both summer cottages and city apartments with the most modern decoration. Residents of America and Europe have given preference to them over the past years as the best value for money. (See also: Electric stoves - fireplaces)

Fireplaces made of iron, as practice shows, have better performance characteristics, are much stronger than their counterparts made from other materials, and, finally, "live" due to the presence of heat-resistant steels in their composition for a very long time. Such fireplaces endow the space in which they reside with an enchanting atmosphere of safe fire, warmth and magic.

DIY installation

If you wish, you can make a metal fireplace yourself according to drawings drawn by yourself or selected online. Its production does not take much time. For a homemade fireplace, you will need a small skill in welding, construction and installation work, as well as the following materials:

for the base of the fireplace and protecting the walls - sheets of heat-resistant coating, as well as heat-resistant tiles or steel sheets 5 mm thick;
for the fireplace body - steel corners for the frame and sheet steel;
for the chimney - pipes, if necessary - metal elbows to them, as well as heat-insulating material;
to complete the work and design - a grate, a glass firebox door, as well as fasteners.

An approximate step-by-step installation instruction will look like this:

Before installing the fireplace, it is necessary to prepare the surface of the floor and walls in the place where it will be installed. As a rule, thermal insulation is made with mineral wool and a metal sheet of heat-resistant steel is laid. To make the place around the fireplace more aesthetic, you can lay it out with tiles or bricks.

The furnace of the stove is made on the basis of a frame welded from metal corners and mounted on legs. The walls of the stove must be made double for more efficient afterburning of fuel and longer heat retention in it. In the front wall of the stove, it is necessary to make a hole for loading fuel there, and install a grate and an ash pan at the bottom.

After creating the stove body, it is necessary to build an exhaust hood with a smoke box. Depending on the location of the fireplace, the chimney will either go directly through the roof to the street, or it will be stepped. In the second case, it is necessary to use transitional elbows that bend the chimney and allow it to be “hidden” in the wall. All joints must be coated with heat-resistant mastic and laid with mineral wool.

Having completed the installation of the main parts, you can move on to framing the fireplace - tiling it with bricks, attaching the firebox door, and arranging a woodcutter next to the fireplace. After that, you can enjoy the result of the work done and the view of a living warm fire in the house.

Useful advice: if you want to have a beautiful and fashionable stove in your house, sketch a layout on paper before starting work, focusing on the schemes of modern fireplaces. Then "try on" it for your space. Perhaps, at the initial stage, an idea that seemed brilliant will be swept aside simply because it does not fit into the interior of the house.

Fireplace device

Before you lay down the order of the fireplace with your own hands, you need to figure out what parts such structures generally consist of, study the structure of the fireplace and its components.

Any fireplace includes the following elements:

Firebox;
Ash pan;
Grate;
Corps (portal);
Chimney.

The most important thing on which the quality of the fireplace and its efficiency depends is the choice of materials for its arrangement. A good option would be a construction lined with bricks. The firebox is usually laid out of fireclay bricks that can withstand high temperatures, and the rest of the masonry is made of ordinary red ceramic bricks. If we build a brick fireplace with our own hands, you can purchase a ready-made metal combustion chamber, and lay out the rest of the fireplace elements around it.

Features and Benefits

Metal fireplaces have always been a worthy alternative to brick structures. There is an opinion that they have a modest appearance and will not be able to organically fit into the room. But it is worth remembering the Demidov fireplace and other cast iron masterpieces made by Kasli craftsmen, and all doubts about this will disappear. Modern metal fireplaces are not as rich in decoration as their predecessors, but they will no less successfully complement the interior of a country house or apartment.

Among the main advantages of metal fireplaces, it is worth highlighting the following:

compactness. Compared to a solid brick fireplace, metal ones take up much less space in the room. They are light in weight, so they do not require foundation preparation, except for leveling the surface;
ease of maintenance. Metal fireplaces are easy to clean and wash. Their small dimensions allow access to the smoke box and the firebox to remove ash and soot from there. Also, the outer surface of the fireplace does not require careful maintenance. You can wipe it with a dry cloth, and if necessary, sometimes polish it with toothpaste or materials from specialized stores;
high heat dissipation. In order for such a fireplace to heat the room, a small amount of fuel is needed. The metal walls of the fireplace body easily give off heat to the environment. But it should be remembered that for the same reason the fireplace cools quickly.

When working with a metal fireplace, you should be more careful when you are near it. The walls of the fireplace body are heated to high temperatures and can cause burns when in contact with it. It is also recommended to protect the wall behind the fireplace with a heat-resistant sheet.

Benefits of wood burning stoves

The main advantages are:

The presence of a casing that has holes for air or a combustion chamber with a system of pipes that remove air.
The casing takes on all the radiation, and when it heats up, it gives off heat to the room.
You can regulate the flow of fresh air into the furnace.
The presence of several partitions located above the combustion chamber. As a result, the gases do not go directly into the pipe, but first give off heat and only then go into the pipe.
A long period of operation, which is associated with the use of refractory bricks in furnaces, the use of hobs made of cast iron, steel or other metal.
The presence of heat exchangers that heat water, but only a few models have such systems.
There is a so-called process of afterburning pyrolysis gases that are released during combustion.
Wood in the stove produces electricity.
Wood-burning metal stoves remove smoke to the right place, which allows you to adjust the heat balance in the living room. As a result, the rooms can maintain a stable temperature for 24 hours.

Other advantages of metal stoves, the principle of operation of which is based on wood, include environmental friendliness, safety, and affordability. In particular, this applies to firewood, which is considered an environmentally friendly type of fuel. And the price for it is lower than for coal or peat. It should be borne in mind that firewood supplies must be replenished, and placed in a specially designated place.